The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-03

with as much energy as we would knowledge
of the arts and sciences, or even the wealth
of this world.
Dr. Livermore once said that "the great dis
coveries and developments in the world of
matter indicate the more significantly the
leadings of Divine Providence; that there
should be corresponding improvements in
the moral world. He who rides a mile a
minute ought to be using that grand convey
ance on no FOOLS errand. He who can cross
the Atlantic in six days should feel himself
commissioned to do some great and good
work for man, when the Almighty has put
into his hands the scepter of the winds and
waves and they obey Him. He who can send
swifter than the suns flight messages from
cline to cline, ought to charter the telegraph
with some noble word, some good tidings of
God, like the ancient strain of purity and
peace which broke upon the ear of the shep-
herds watching their sheep by night
Our doctrines. we think, are supreme-rhat
in them glory and grandeur stand in advance
of any other-but we have depended too much
upon the superiority of our religion, and we
have not sufficiently emphasized present duty
and conservation.
We believe that Jesus taught Universalism
plainly and unequivocally. So did the great
Apostle of the Gentiles. Still IL they had not
practiced their religion they would not have
trusted. Jesus might have spoken with the
voice of a stentor; great multitudes might
have thronged to him; still if he had not lived
his precepts they would have long since been
hushed in everlasting silence.
Confucus, the Chinese philosopher, and
Thales, one of the seven wise men of Greece,
in all probability taught the Golden Rule;
but, by failing to practice it, it never became
an adage till that one of Nazareth taught it
and exemplfied it in his life.
Members of the Convention, while we have
all confidence in your morality and virtue,
still wish to impress upon your minds the
great Importance of well-directed lives, for
we believe that without an experimental
knowledge of the religion of Jesus Christ. no
permanent growth need be expected. Further,
we believe that our religion, as contained in
our articles of faith, are the best calculated
to awaken pure religious life of any other.
This is further seen in the fact that there are
less criminals of our people in our jails. peni-
tentiaries and almshouses in proportion to
the population, than any other.
If it be true, as we believe, that God is good
as well as wise and powerful, d that he has
never given existence to any unless in the end
such beings existence should prove bless
ing and not curse; if it be true that God is
love and that in love is the ful6llment of the
law; that the penalty is under the control of
love and God; that we have father In God, a
universal Saviour in Jesus Christ-that under
his government all things will finally issue
well-certainly these facts, with the conclusion
drawn therefrom, are the best calculated, as
we think. to elevate. emancipate and as well
as to moralize the nations.
Advice might be better received from an
other than from myself. and the application
be taken by minister and laymen, although ad-
dressed to the former.
Gregory, of Nazianzen, as quoted by Vinet,
the French homilist, says 1.-The minister
must first become pure, and then he can purify
others. He must first become enlightened
and then he can enlighten others. He must
first draw near to God and then he can draw
others near 10 God. He must first become
holy and then he may influence others to be-
come holy Let this advice sink deep in all
our hearts, True it is not expected that any
will fully attain to the perfection presented
in this quotation, and yet if we fail to ap-
proach the spirit of it, we will fail in true
reformation, or in the ministry of reconcilia-
tion
None of us are called to the Christian minis
try unless the gospel of Jesus Christ so oper-
ates upon the mind and heart that by it we
are enabled to awaken an enthusiasm in
others. If the cause of religion does not pros
per under our labors we should step down and
out, for when the call was made we answered
in the place of some other man.
The speaker closed with series of recon-
mendations to the Convention. % Touching
the duty of the Committee of Fellowship to be
careful in accepting applicants for our minis
try. ~ To educate Universalist children in
Universalist schools. 3] That the churches
pledge their annual dues to the Convention at
this session. "a That the State Superintend-
ent be requested to look after requests for the
Permanent Fund, and establish pa toral Cir
cults when possible. (5) That the "Conven-
ton Reporter" be discontinued, unless made
self-supporting, and THE UNIvERsALIsT be
used as the organ of communication with the
Universalists of the State. 49, That parishes
hold special meetings for religious devotion
and increase of church membership; and that
on these occasions prayer and conference
meetings be held, and evenings set apart for
explanation and inquiry; that enthusiastic
songs attend each service: that reasonable
solicitations should be used to ali not con-
nected with our church to unite and give the
cause the energy of well-directed lives.
By these means, said the speaker, an interest
might be awakened that would tell in the
cause of Universalism.
In conclusion, mem ers of the Conven ii on,
let us unite in expression of gratitude to the
Bountiful Giver for all the blessings which
have crowned our lives during the past year;
also for the blessings of this house and the
prophecy in the text, that the heavenly p ant
is a tree planted by the rivers of water, from
which it can perpetually receive nourish-
ment and yield it's fruit in its season; and it's
leaf shall never wither, fostered by the Provi-
dence of the everlasting God. If we would
flourish, pros per and grow during the opening
year, we must put the energy of well-directed
lives into the Gospel we profess, avail our
selves of our privileges, and If so, ere we meet
again in annual convocation, our numbers
will be increased, our borders will be enlarged.
and we will have fastened the period when
Ephriam shall not envy Judah, nor Judah vex
Ephriam; yea, the much hoped for period
when one law shall bind all nations, families
aud kindreds of the earth, and that law be the
law of universal brotherhood.
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THE COMPLETE LIFE.